‘Plan 2030’ Announced by England Rugby Ahead of the Six Nations

by Roy Brindley, 2 February 2026

On the eve of the Six Nations, England Rugby has launched its new ‘Plan 2023’ strategy for the next four years.

Perfect Timing: Rugby’s Six Nations will get underway this week in France. © INPHO/Billy Stickland

Key Facts:

• Rugby’s ‘Plan 2030’ includes 50,000 additional players and £500 million put back into the sport.
• Rugby is the UK’s sixth-largest sport with a fanbase of 12 million.
• YouGov figures suggest rugby is becoming increasingly popular as a betting sport.
• The Six Nations begins this week. France are the bookmakers’ favourites.

England Rugby, run by the Rugby Football Union, has launched its new strategy for the next four years. Its ‘Plan 2030’ sets out what it describes as a “clear, ambitious and realistic plan to grow the game, enrich lives and ensure rugby continues to thrive at every level across the country.”

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is a members’ organisation of professional and amateur rugby clubs, referee societies, and constituent bodies that reinvests its profits in the sport. Its patron is The Princess of Wales.

RFU says its new strategy “recognises that while rugby remains one of England’s most popular sports, the world around it is changing fast, and presents a plan focused on making sure the game continues to thrive for future generations.”

Shy on Sponsorship but a Bookie Favourite

According to Nielsen Sports, the world’s leading source of sports measurement and analytics, rugby is the sixth-largest sport in the UK, with a fanbase of 12 million. It enjoys favourable age and gender splits, and there is widespread interest in flagship competitions such as the Six Nations.

As it leans heavily on its community and schools pathway, rugby union does not have as many high-profile bookmaker sponsorships as many other sports. Nevertheless, there are a few, such as LeoVegas, long-running association with the Leicester Tigers.

YouGov research indicates that rugby union has gradually risen up the list of sports that regular UK gamblers bet on. It is now comparable to cricket and tennis. Pulling ahead of darts and snooker in recent years, it is very popular with the UK’s leading online betting sites.

Four Goals of Plan 2030

Rugby’s stock could rise further if Plan 2030’s four goals are achieved. They are:

Play: Getting More People Playing Rugby, for Longer

The strategy puts participation at its heart, focusing on making rugby relevant, accessible, and enjoyable for all ages. With an overall goal of attracting an additional 50,000 registered players (from a base of 290,000 currently).

Perform: Consistently Winning Senior International Competitions

England Rugby will strengthen alignment across the professional game, invest in coaching and performance pathways, and continue to lead globally on player welfare and safety. The aim is not only to win senior international competitions consistently, but to do so in a way that inspires future generations and supports a thriving domestic game.

Follow: Building a New Generation of Passionate Fans

The RFU’s strategy recognises the need to deepen connections with existing supporters while reaching new audiences. It targets an additional 500,000 passionate fans of our national teams (from a current base of 5.2 million).

Fund: Investing Sustainably in the Whole Game

To support growth from grassroots to elite, England Rugby plans to invest £500 million back into the sport by 2030 – a multiyear commitment for investment across all aspects of the sport.

‘Plan 2030’ also sets out investment into the community game; diversifying income streams and maximising the long-term value of Allianz Stadium, while making responsible investment choices that secure the game’s financial future.

France Fancied in 2026 Six Nations

The timing of England Rugby’s new strategic plan coincides with the start of the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations. Its first game will be played on Thursday, February 5, as a night match between France and Ireland.

The competition, featuring the men’s national teams of England, France, Wales, Italy, Scotland and Ireland, will end with a France versus England encounter on March 14. Ladbrokes and other UK betting firms make France the 8/11 betting favourites, followed by England (5/2), Ireland (7/1) and Scotland (14/1).